France Bourély is an explorer and photographer of the nanospace. She calls herself a contemplative biologist.

In 1985, after a doctorate in pharmacy from the university of Paris, France Bourély won first prize in an international science competition (the Honewell Futurist Competition)  and thus obtained a scholarship for the University of California, Berkeley. There she studied botany and plant cell morphogenesis, and got a Master's degree in 1987.

It was also at Berkeley that she first discovered the scanning electron microscope, using it for her research into the origin of forms.
Passionate about nature photography, (arctic, jungles...), she won a photographic prize in a Leitz-Leica competition.
She discovered a passion for black and white photography, thanks to images by Ansel Adams and Weston. Armed with a Nikon, she went camping in the Arctic for several months. On her return to Paris, while continuing another career, she took a year course in traditional silver printing with Georges Fèvre, Cartier-Bresson's and Doisneau's favorite developper. She chose to apply her scientific knowledge to photographing the invisible, a largely unexplored and beautiful territory.
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As a scientist turned artist, she shared her artwork internationally through many international exhibits (Arles, Paris, New-York, Rome, New-Delhi, Prague…)  
In 2002, She published a book "Hidden Beauty, microworlds revealed", Abrams Inc.[1]  and then took a few years break to devote herself to her family.  
Since 2016, she vastly expanded her collection of photographs. She also gave conferences in biomimicry, showing not only the harmony but the treasures of inspiration which engineers can find at the micron and nanometer level.
France Bourély is member of the Société des explorateurs français (SEF)